Heddle bar supporting means



March 12, 1935; R. RAGAN 1,994,286

HEDDLE BAR SUPPORTING MEANS Filed Dec. 6, 1932 Patented Mar. 12 1935uNirEo STATES HEDDLE A SUPPORTING MEANS Ralph Ragan, Atlanta, Ga,assignor to Steel Heddle Manufacturing Company, Philadelphia, Pa.,

a corporation of Pennsylvania Application December 6, 16 Claims.

This invention relates to supports for the' heddle bars of the heddleframes of looms.

One, of the principal objects of the invention is to provide a supportand locking means for the heddle bars which is simpleand inexpensive,and which at the same time will be eflicient in operation.

. Another object of the invention is to provide a support and lockingmeans in which a pronged washer is used for locking the heddle bars inposition, the construction and arrangement being such that the pressureapplied. on the prongs of the washer when the latter is in position forlocking the bars, forces the bars inwardly against the heddle support soas to maintain them jammed, against the latter throughout their width. 1

A further object of the invention is to provide a spring pressed lockingdevice in conjunction with a locking nut, the spring acting not only tonormally maintain the heddle bars in locked position, but also to bindthe nut in position for locking the bars in place against the support.

Another object is to provide a heddle bar support and locking means inwhich the spring which normally maintains the bars iii-locked positionalso holds the center brace in position against the support.

Further objects of'the invention will hereinafter appear as thedescription proceeds.

.In the drawing, in which I have shown for illustrative purposes oneof-the forms that the invention. may take; and. modifications thereof;

Fig. 1 represents a'fragmentary View in elevation, partly in section ofa portion of a heddle frame showingmy invention applied thereto,

some of the heddles being shown in position on the heddle bars. and thelocking nut being shown in open'or raised position. 7 V

Fig. 2 represents a similar view, the heddles being omitted forvclearness of illustration, the locking nut being shown in closed orlowered position. i

Fig. 3 represents a sectional'view at right angles to Fig. 1 taken onthe line '3-'3 thereof looking in the direction indicated by thearrows,the

heddles being omitted.

Fig. 4 represents a view in section taken on the line 44 of Fig. 1looking in the direction of the arrows, the heddles and the center bracebeing omitted. r r Fig. 5 represents a plan View of the spring.

Fig. 6 represents a horizontal sectional View. on the line 6-6 of Fig.4.

. Fig. '7 represents a view similar to Fig. 4 of 1932, Serial No.645,904

a modified form of the invention, the locking nut being shown in loweredposition.

Fig. 8 represents a view similar to Fig. 4 of a form of the inventionthatmay beutilized in connection with a lock for a single heddle barsupport. r V x 7 Figs. 9 and. 10 are views similar to Fig. 1, ofmodifications.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, I have illustrated theinvention assembled in conjunction with the top rail of a heddle frame,it being understood that a similar arrangement may be used in connectionwith the lower rail except that it is in reversed position. The rail isindicated at 5, the heddle bars at 6, the upper ends of a number ofheddles at 7. the center brace at 8, and the heddle bar support at 9.The latter may be in the form ofabolt flattened at its in ner end andprovided with beveled. shoulders 10' against which the imier or loweredges of the heddle bars 6 rest when the bars are in position on thesupport. The inclination of the shoulders is such as to wedge or cam thebars against through ,a metalplate 11 attached byv means of screws 12 tothe inner face ofthe rail,;may pass through an opening in the rail, andon the upper face thereof may receive a winged. nut 13 for tightening itin position and preventing it from turning in the plate 11. The nut maybear against a suitable Washer 14 which may be in the form of a lockwasher if desired.

Slidable longitudinally of the support 9 is a washer 15 having theprongs or'arms 16 depending therefrom. The lower ends of the prongs arebent inwardly into alignment with the shoulders 10 and into'closeassociation with the edges of the flattened portion of the bolt, so thatwhile .the washer isfree to slide up and down on the bolt, it cannotturn thereon to any great extent since the clearance between the lowerends of the prongs and the edges of the flattened portion of the bolt isso small (see Fig. 7) that the prongs will bind against the bolt beforethe washer turns to any considerable extent. 1

The lower ends of the prongs are recessed as at 17, and the curvatureofthe inner ends of the recesses is the same as the curvature of thenatural rolled edges of the heddle bars, so that the lower ends. of theprongs fit the heddle bars very snugly.

Similarly the shoulders 10 at their junction with the support arelikewise rounded to accord with the natural rolled edges of the heddlebars. It will be observed that due to the a'ngularity of the prongsofthe washer, any pressure'tending to move the washerdownwardly when thebars are in position on the support, will also tend to flex the arms andforce their lower ends inwardly toward the edges of the support, andthus bind the bars against such edges. It will also .be noted that byhaving thelocking arms or prongs of the washer in the same verticalplane as the locking shoulders of the support, the lateral width of thebearing surface of the flattened portion of the support, and of theprongs and shoulders can .be

. relatively great without unduly increasing the disr the center brace 8so as to maintain such brace tance that. separates the heddles adjacentthe heddle bar support. In other words maximum supporting area for theheddle bars with minimum width of such area is obtained. This isofimportance, when it is understood that if the width between the heddlesadjacent the lockis too great the heddles willbe separated so much.that.

reed marks will result in the cloth.

[In order to maintain the" locking washer normally in position'to holdthebars in place, I utilize a leaf springlS anchored at its upperend tothe platell by one of the screws 12. At its lower end the spring isforked at '19'so as to straddle} the support 9, and rest upon the upperface of the pronged washer 15. i The spring thus constantly urges thewasher downwardly; A center prong 20 is also formed on the spring andextends downwardly to engage against the upper end of against thesupport 9; The brace is recessed'to receive the heddle bars 6 and itwillbe understood that while only the upper end of the ,bracefis shown, theother or lower end be similarly for-med. The forked end of the spring,in addi-.

tion to urging thelocking washer downwardly, by

straddling the support 9, keeps the spring from' shifting sidewise andthus prevents fouling an adjacent frame.

While the spring may, particularly in light frames, be sufiicientlystrongto maintain the locking washer inlocking'engagement with theheddle bars I may, especially in heavy frames, use additional means forpositively binding the locking washer: in position. This meanstakes theform of 1 alocking nut 21 which is threaded on the support or bolt 9above the locking washer and the forked end of the spring. Byturning-the nut downwardly into the position indicated in Fig. 2, forinstance, the locking'washer is forced downwardlyto bring the prongs 16thereof into tight binding engagement with the bars 6 so as to rigidlyhold'th'e latter throughout their width against the bearing faces of thesupport. This movement of the nut will flex the spring lg substantiallyas indicated in Fig. 2 so that the latter willbind the nut and act as alocking means to prevent accidental unscrewing thereof. Thus the barswill be rigidly locked in position so that they cannot vibrate,

wear will be prevented, and crystallization or weakening of the metal ofthe bars will be pre-' vented since they will be held immovable againstthe support. Furthermore V the action of the prongs in binding the barsthroughout theirwidth against the support will add the strength of thecross sectional area of the barsto the frame members tothus-additionally brace the frame; i

It will be noted that the plate '11 not only strengthens the frame atthe point where the supportis mounted, but acts as a means foradjusting' the'vertical positionof the support, and in conjunction withthe Wing nut locks the support in position.

.When, it. is. desired .to .release the heddlebars,

' If desired a spiral spring such-as 22 maybe;

the nut is unscrewed to: move it'upwardly on the support, whereupon thewasher may be moved upwardly against the tension of the spring until thelower ends of the prongs clear the bars, then the latter may be movedout of engagement with the shoulders 10 and away from the'support so asto allow the heddles to be shifted along the bars;

In Fig. Iihave, shown amodification of the invention whichis applicableto a support irrwhich the bars are held in staggered relation. In this10" form of the invention one of the shoulders 1'0 is lower than theopposite shoulder 10 and one of theprongs 15 of the locking washer 15 islength ened so astobring it into"engagement with the upper edge of thelower heddle bar 6 The same :15

formationlof spring and locking'nut, 18 and 21' respectively, may beusedasbefore.

I have shown the" invention as applied to a double'heddle bar support,but itwill be .under- ,stood that it can be applied equally as well to asingle heddle bar support. In the' latter event the locking washe'r'm'aybe supplied with onlyone prong instead of two, and the support'ma'y.have one shoulder for receiving'the heddle bar' instead of two.'Suchanarrang'ement isshown in Fig. 8;"in'which 15 is the washer havingthe? single prong 16", 9 is the support having the single shoulder10,--and 6 is the-heddle bar. The same spring and locking nut may beused as before.

15 and beneath the spring, asin Fig; 1'0 ,tliesec- 0nd washer havinga-lip 24 adapted-toretain ithei center brace in position. Itwillbeunderstoode: 7 that eitherof these constructions maybe usedwith thedouble-'heddle bar support, whether staggered.

or not,- and also with the single heddle ham-Sup The foregoingdescription hasbeen giventfon purposes of clearness of understanding of'the invention and of the particular embodimentsthere of chosenforillustrativepurposes; but no undue limitations should be deducedtherefrom asthef claims should be construed as broadlyas -permi ssiblein view of the prior art n 1';

I claim: r "v 1. In a loom heddle frame,a heddle-bar upon;

which the heddles are mountedya supportffor the heddlebar intermediateits-ends; saidzisup port having a shoulder for: receiving. the heddle 1and having a prong-adapted to enga'gdthe'heddle? bar, a washer slidablymounted on .the "s'upport bar thereby to hold it in pcsitio'nlon the:sup port, and positive locking means" on the support? adaptedto hold thewasher in position :to cause the p'rongthereof to. 'bind the. -'heddlebar'posi;

tively in fixedposition.

2. In a loom'heddle frame;=.a he ddle.

which the heddles are d? avsupportafbr I the .he'ddle bar intermediateits.;ends,i saidlsupa'r.

porthavinga shoulder for receiving the heddles. bar, a washer slidablymounted on-.-the; supp.ortand having. a prong adaptedtoengageeth'eheddlev bar thereby to hold...it: irf-positiononigithesupport, and a locking nut. ,threaded Ion .the:s'upi-.:-

porti and. adapted tozlbe; advanced ttherieonz ito tively in fixedposition. 4. In a loom heddle frame, a heddle bar upon the heddlebar'intermediate its ends, said :sup-

port havinga shoulder for receiving the heddle bar, a washer slidablymounted on the support and having a prong adapted to engage theheddlebar thereby to hold it in position'on the support, a spring having aportion bearing against the washer to urge it toward the heddle bar, andpositive locking means on the support adapted to hold the washer inposition to cause the prong thereof to bind the heddle bar posiwhich theheddles are mounted, a support for the heddle bar intermediate its ends,said'support having a shoulder for receiving the heddle bar, a washerslidably mounted on the support and having a prong adapted'to engage theheddle bar thereby to hold it in'position on the support, a springhaving a portion bearing against the washer to urge it toward the heddlebar, and

a locking nut threaded on the support, and

adapted to be advanced thereon to holdthe washer in position to causethe prong thereof to bind the heddle bar positively in fixed position.

5. In a loom heddle frame, a heddle bar upon which the heddles aremounted, a support for the heddle bar having a shoulder for receivingthe heddle bar, a washer slidably mounted on the support and having aprong adapted to engage the heddle bar thereby to hold it in position onthe support, a'leaf spring secured at one end to a fixed portion of theframe and having itsother end forked and straddling the support, saidforked end bearin against the washer to urge it toward the heddle bar,and a locking nut threaded on the support and adapted to be advancedthereon to hold the washer in position to cause the prong thereof tobind the heddle bar positively. p

6. In a loom heddle frame, a heddle bar upon which the heddles aremounted, a center brace, a support for the heddle bar having a shoulderfor receiving the heddle bar, a washer slidably mounted on'the supportand having a prong adapted to engage the heddle bar thereby to hold itin position on the supoprt, and a spring having a portion bearingagainst the washer to urge it toward the heddle bar, one of the membershaving a depending prong engaging the center brace to hold it inposition adjacent the support. V

'7. In a loom heddle frame, a heddle bar upon which the heddles aremounted, a center brace,

, a support for the heddle bar having a shoulder for receiving theheddle bar, a washer slidably mounted on the support and having a prongadapted to engage the heddle barthereby to hold it in position on thesupport, a spring having a portion bearing against the washer to urge ittoward the heddle bar, one of the members having a depending prongengaging the center brace to hold it in position adjacent the support,and locking means on the support adapted to hold the washer in positionto cause the prong thereof to bind the heddle bar positively.

8. In a loom heddle frame, a heddle bar upon which the heddles aremounted, a center brace, a support for the heddle bar having a shoulderfor receiving the heddle bar, a washer slidably mounted on the supportand having a prong 1 adapted to engage the heddlebar thereby to hold itin position on the support, a springhaving a portionbearing against thewasher to urge it?- toward the heddle bar, one of the membersrhava inga'depending prongengaging thecenterbrace to hold it in position adjacentthe support, and a locking nut threaded on the support and adapted Itobe advanced'th'ereon tozhold-the washerin position tocause :the prongthereof to bindthe heddle. bar positively.

9. In a'- loom'heddleframe,a heddle bar upon which the 'heddles aremounted; a center brace, a"

supportfor the heddle bar having a shoulder, for

receiving the heddle bar, a washer slidably mounted on the support andhaving a prong adapted to engage the heddle bar thereby to hold it inposition onthe support, a leaf spring secured at one end to arfixedportion of the frame and having its other end bearing against the washerto urge it toward the heddle bar, one of the members having a dependingprong engaging the center brace to hold it in position adjacent thesupport, and a locking nut threaded on the support and adapted to beadvanced thereon to hold the washer in position to cause the prongthereof to bind the heddle bar positively.

10. In a loom heddle frame, a heddle barupon which the heddles aremounted, a center brace, a support for the heddle bar having a shoulderfor receiving the heddle bar, a washer slidably'mounted on the supportand having a prong adapted to engage the heddle bar thereby to hold itin posi- V tion on the support, a spring having a portion bearingagainst the washer to urge it toward the heddle bar, said spring alsohaving an extension engaging the center brace to hold it in positionadjacent the support, and a locking nut threaded end to a fixed portionof the frame and having its other end forked and straddling the support,said forked end bearing against the washer to urge it toward the heddlebar, said spring also having a depending prong engaging-the center braceto hold it in position adjacent the support, and'a looking nut threadedon the support and adapted to be advanced thereon to hold the washer inposition to cause the prong thereof to bind the heddle bar positively.

12. In a loom heddle frame, a heddle bar upon which the heddles aremounted; a support for the heddle bar intermediate its ends, saidsupport having a shoulder for receiving the heddle'bar,

of its length, and a lock nut movable on said threaded portion forholding said heddle bar in positive locked position against saidshoulder.

13. In aloom heddle frame, a heddle bar upon which the heddlesaremounted, a support for the heddle bar intermediate its ends, saidsupport the said support being threaded over a portion having a shoulderfor receiving the heddle bar, a

member movable on said support having a portion bearing against theheddle bar, and a lock 'nut bearing against said movable member forholding said heddle bar in positive locked position against saidshoulder.

14; In a 100m heddle frame, a heddle bar upon which the heddles,arefimounted; a suppoi-t=forthe hedd1e%=-barzintermediate its ends;saidsupport havingia shoulder forvrreceivinggthei heddle bar', means*for holding: saidhedd1e-bar in I contact" .with said shoulder, and alocking member'mo'vable along said. support to maintain saidholding-means in fixed position.

15. In a 100mv heddleiramaaheddle barxupon which the heddles aremountedg a support; for.- the heddle bar intermediatev its ends; said."support having -a shoulder for 7 receiving athe' heddIe bar,

the said support beingithreadedover'a pqrtionof' its length-rand means;forlocking saiduheddiebar:

esa-2am: V i r. H

inmontact=with5=said shouldminel-udingg flg ka nutqnovable=-=oim=saidihreaded portion: Y r

16. In a'loom heddle frame, a heddle banupom'; which the heddles' are'mountei 'a support. forqthe heddle bar intermediate its -ends',- I saidsuppontw 5' having :-a shoulder: for receiving: the;-hedd1e'- bar andmeansi for clamping .said heddle-bar injpqsi tive -1ocked=position incontactwith said'shoulder, i said means including-+- a non-resilient Imember;

said clamping:

movable along 'saidsup'port to a 'positiomto-efiecfi zmii V v

